Vertically arranged apparatus for the washing and drying of dishes and the like



y 12, 1964 A. P. ANDERSON 3,132,655

VERTICALLY ARRANGED APPARATUS FOR THE WASHING AND DRYING OF DISHES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 9, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I /8 I /2 I I I 34 I I I I I I I I 30 I /46 I I l I I I 46 I I I J I I I////////// I l 1 T I 46 I I 42 I L 22 I I 1 I Vertical I Convoylng MOTOR Means I /,.if

I Transfer \J Moons L zl 4 I I FIG. 4.

INVENTOR.

ANDREW P ANDERSON ATTORNEYS y 1964 A. P. ANDERSON 3,132,655

VERTICALLY ARRANGED APPARATUS FOR THE WASHING AND V DRYING OF DISHES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 9. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5.

INVENTOR.

ANDREW P. ANDERSON Fl G. 3.

ATTQRNEYS United States Patent I My invention relates to dishwashing and drying equipment, and more particularly to equipment of this type which affords the maximum utilization of building space,

and as an incident thereto, a more satisfactory utilization of personnel.

The equipment almost universally employed for the washing and drying of dishes and other utensils in restaurants, hotels, and hospitals is arranged horizontally. In other words, such equipment involves a straight, horizontally extending enclosure through which the dishes pass in the course of subjecting them to hot water washing and hot air drying. The disadvantages of such an arrangement are several, the most noteworthy being that the equipment often reaches extreme, and perhaps rather absurd, proportionsin terms of length. Thus, the floor space occupied may be considerable and, in fact, possibly prohibitive. In some cases the design of a building on the basis of sound considerations must be abandoned for the sake of tailoring an area such as the dishwashing room to suit the dishwashing equipment, rather than the equipment being adapted to the building as properly should be the case. In other cases similar illogical situations arise; for example the equipment, which may be 45 feet or more in length, may have to be positioned diagonally in a space in order to make it fit. This usually results in loss of floorspace and bad arrangement.

Further inefficiencies arise in connection with the straight-through type washers and dryers with respect to the effective utilization of personnel. In the average washing operation, employees are stationed both at the entrance and exit ends of the machine, there being involved the hand scraping and stacking of dishes prior to loading on the dishwasher-conveyor, and the inspec tion, sorting and distribution at the exit. Due partly to the sometimes intermittent stream of dishes being washed, the full capacities of these separate employees stationed at opposite ends of the dishwasher are not alwaysrealized. Accordingly, if a single employee or group of employees at a single station could perform both the sets of duties commonly associated with work at differentends of a straight-through type dishwasher, a greater elficiency in the application of man-hours will result.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide dishwashing and drying apparatus which does not impose illogical restrictions on the design of buildings housing such apparatus, which occupies only a fraction of the amount of space occupied by conventional equipment, and which affords flexibility in its application to planned or existing structures. A further object, as touched upon above, is to effect a more efficient utilization of personnel, with consequent savings in operating costs.

In its broad aspects, my invention comprises the arrangement of dishwashing and drying equipment vertically. In accordance with my invention the dishes and other utensils travel vertically while being subjected to the usual hot water washing and rinsing sprays and thereafter, although not necessarily, they are reversed in 'direction to return to the location where they were loaded. In their return path, there may be a continuation of the washing spray and/or a hot air spray for drying. Theabove method of washing and/ or drying may be carried out inapparatus comprising a new combination of elements which individually are entirely conventional in 3,132,655 Patented May 12., 1964 other arts. Vertically traveling conveying equipment has been well known for many years in connection with the handling of trays of food and boxes of dishes between floors. As will be apparent from the specific description hereafter, in accordance with my invention hot water and hot air sprays can be combined with such vertical conveyor equipment to provide dishwashing and'drying apparatus which requires a minimum of floor space. Also, since in accordance with my preferred embodiment the entrance and exit openings of the machine are in close proximity to each other, a single employee can attend the machine, including scraping, racking, inspection, sorting and distribution.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the'accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a rear elevation of the apparatus with one side of the enclosure removed, or taken along line 11 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is .a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a block diagram illustrating the controls for the apparatus; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation illustrating optional takeoff means.

The apparatus is housed in a framework of structural steel sections including vertical members 2 and interconnecting horizontal members indicated, for example, at 4. It is significant to note that the framework may extend vertically through an opening 3 in one of the floors 5 of a building, as will be described more fully hereafter; Three pairs of apron roller chains 6, 7 and 8 of equal length hang vertically within the framework and are trained over respective upper pairs of sprockets 10, 12 and 14 and respective lower pairs of sprockets 16, 18 and 2%. The upper sprockets 10, 12 and 14, are driven at the same speed and in synchronism from a conventional electric motor and speed reduction unit 22 by means of a schematically illustrated gear train including meshing gears 24. The pairs of upper sprockets 10 and 14 are driven clockwise and the pair of upper sprockets 12 is driven counterclockwise. All of the mentioned sprockets are mounted on shafts which are journalled in precision, self-aligning bearing blocks 26 supported by framework cross members. Mounted horizontally at intervals on the chains 6, 7 and 8 are a plurality of shelves or flights which are identical and, therefore, identified singly at 28. Flights 28 are of conventional rightangular construction and are attached to the chains by suitable brackets of well-known type. The plates 28 on the downwardly traveling portions of chains 6 are positioned at the same intervals and at the same levels as the flights on the downwardly traveling portion of chains 7, it being remembered that'the chains 6 and 7 are driven at the same speed. The same applies to the flights on the upwardly traveling portions of chains 8 with respect to flights on the upwardly traveling portions of chains 7. As a means for guiding the flights, and incidentally for preventing chain slapping, there are provided vertical channel members 30 secured to the framework cross members 4, in which channels the flights 28 slide.

From what has been described thus far it will be ap parent that the downwardly traveling portions of the chains 6 and 7 with their opposed flights between them by the lateral spacing of the sprockets and guide channels for the driving chains-appropriate to the support of such dish boxes or racks between them. Similarly, the upwardly traveling portions of chains 7 and 55 and their opposed flights constitute an ascending conveying means (or hereafter the ascending side) B at the right hand side for the same boxes or racks 32. (The containers for the dishes preferably are racks and hereafter will be referred to as such.)

The vertical portion of the apparatus has an enclosure 34, sealed at the floors, ceiling etc. on all sides. The enclosure preferably is constructed of metal suitable for the interiors of dishwashing equipment, zinc galvanized metal and stainless steel being examples. Access to the descending and ascending sides A and B is provided, respectively, by an IN door 36 and an OUT door 33. Each of the doors 36 and 38 is of the conventional two-piece type which opens vertically from the middle, the sections being counterbalanced for ease of operation. Preferably at least the OUT door 33 has a transparent vision panel therein for observation of ascending dishes.

Proceeding now to the actual washing aspect, sche matically illustrated along the descending side A are nozzles 49 which spray hot water under high pressure against the dishes for washing thereof. It will be understood that equipment for supplying hot water, preferably containing a detergent or the like, and in fact the nozzles themselves, are completely conventional and therefore have not been illustrated in detail. Thus the washing operation of dis-hes or the like contained in racks 32 is effected while they descend at side A. On the ascending side B two operations are effected according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, namely, the rinsing and the drying of dishes. Below a given level such as 42 a plurality of nozzles 44 spray clean, hot rinsing water against the dishes, while above the level 42 a plurality of nozzles 46 direct hot air against the dishes to dry them. Again, the equipment for supplying rinsing water and air, and the specific nozzle structures, are conventional and therefore not shown. Due to the different operations conducted at sides A and B, e.g. washing and drying, these sides are eifectively isolated by a separating wall member 48. It will be understood that suitable drains and basins (not shown) are provided at the bottom of the apparatus for receiving the water and residue resulting from washing and rinsing.

As dish racks descend to the bottom of side A they are transferred to side B by means generally indicated at C and which now will be described with reference particularly to FIGURES 2 and 3. Positioned directly in the path of racks 32 at the bottom of their descent are two rail members 48. As opposed descending flights 2% reach the level of rails 48, therefore, they set the dish racks which they carry upon the rails 48 and then pass around sprockets l and 18 to begin their upward travel. A roller chain Ell is trained about sprockets 52 and 54, positioned as shown in FIGURE 2, and carries spaced pusher lugs 56 designed, when driven in the direction indicated, to engage the back end (the upper end as viewed in FIG- URE 2) of racks 32 as they rest on rails 48 and slide the racks out of the path of succeeding descending racks. Rails 48 intersect a second pair of rails 5'7 at a right angle and are interrupted to provide clearance for a roller chain 58, similar to chain 56, passing between rails 57. Chain 58 is trained over sprockets 62 and 64 and carries spaced pusher lugs 68 which, when chain 58 is driven in the direction indicated, are adapted to engage dish racks deposited on rails 57 by pusher lugs 56 and convey the racks to the right in FIGURE 2. Rails 57 intersect a third set of rails 66 and are interrupted to provide clearance for a roller chain 68 passing between rails 66. Chain 68 is trained over sprockets 79 and '72 and carries spaced pusher lugs74 adapted to engage dish racks deposited on rails 66 to move the racks to the ascending side B. It will be noted that rails 66 extend inwardly between and past the ascending flights 28, whereby racks resting on rails 66 are lifted therefrom and carried upwardly. The chains 5 58 and 68 are driven by unit 22 in fixed timed relation to each other and to the chains 6, '7 and 8. In other words, the chain 50 is synchronized to bring a pusher lug56 into position to discharge a dish rack each time one is set on the rails 48 by a pairof flights. Similarly, the chain 58 is synchronized with the chain 50 so as to effect the transfer of racks from rails 48 to 57. And chain 68 is properly synchronized with respect to chain 58 and to chains 7 and 8 to effect the delivery of a dish rack to the ascending side B just before each pair of ascending flights move upwardly to receive it. The driving connection for effecting this timing is only schematically shown in FIGURE 4, referred to hereafter, but would be evident to one skilled in the art and, therefore, it has not been shown.

The path of movement of dish racks in the course of transfer from side A to side B is bounded by inner and outer guiding wall members 76 and 7 8, respectively. The transfer mechanism is enclosed, as an extension of enclosure 34, by enclosure 30. As indicated in FIGURE 2, the transfer mechanism can be extended outwardly (downwardly in FIGURE 2), as far as deemed practical, depending on the particular capacity requirements of'a given installation.

The controls for the disclosed embodiment of the invention are relatively simple, although quite complex arrangements may be employed which need not be explained herein. In perhaps the simplest arrangement, the control entails the stopping of the complete drive means either when the IN door 36 is opened to load a rack of dirty dishes on the flights or when a rack of clean dishes arrives at the OUT door 38. This requires merely switches connected in series, one switch 81 (FIGURE 4) being opened by the opening of door 36 and the other switch being an ordinary limit switch 82 (FIGURES 1 and 4) which is opened by the arrival of a rack of clean dishes at door 38. Such switches, of course, controlthe motor unit 22 for driving the flights and transfer mechanisni. As soon as the celan dishes are removed the operation of the drive means such as unit 22 will be resumed. The drive means will stop when door 36 is opened but will resume when it has closed.

The overall operation of'the invention will now be described very briefly. Dishes, utensils or the like first are placed in conventional boxes or racks intended for the purpose. The counter-balanced door 36 is opened manually and opening of the previously mentioned doorcontrolled switch 81 eifects the stopping of the chains 6, 7 and S for the flights 28 and stopping of the transfer chains 50, 58 and ss. The dish box or rack is placed on a set of flights which have stopped adjacent the now open door 36, which then is closed to resume operation of the drive means. The dishes descend on side A past washing sprays 40 until they are deposited on rails 48, whereupon they are moved out of side A by the action of a pusher lug 56 on the box or rack 32. Subsequently they are transferred to rails 57 by a pusher lug 60 and thence to rails 66 by a pusher lug 74, which convey the dishes to side B in synchronism with the upward advance of a set of flights 28. As the dishes ascend they are first subjected to rinsing sprays from nozzles 44 and then to drying hot air from nozzles 46. When the box or rack of cleaned and dried dishes reaches limit switch 82 the switch is opened to stop the driving means, but when the dishes are removed through door 38 the switch 82 closes to resume operation.

If, in the course of movement of the dishes as jus described, the door 36 is opened to load a second batch of dirty dishes the driving means will of course be temporarilystopped by the opening of switch 81.

It will be recognized that the vertical portions of the conveying means per se comprise equipment which is entirely conventional and which is commonly employed for the transfer of dishes between floors inrestuarants, hospitals, institutions, etc. The vertical conveying arrangement is known as the duplex type, wherein the central apron or flights (7) are common to a down service and an up service. My invention involves the novel combination of such vertical conveying means with means effecting the washing, rinsing and, if desired, the drying of dishes or the like; and also the means for transferring the dishes from one set of flights to the other as described.

As specifically described the invention involves drying above a certain level (42) and rinsing below this level, but it should be understood that this level may be shifted upwardly or downwardly or, in fact, the ascending side (B) may be devoted entirely to either drying or rinsing. However, it should be noted that preferably the rinsing should take place separate from the washing, since food particles dropping downwardly will hinder the rinsing if done in the descending side (A). The drying at the ascending side may be omitted if desired.

Clean dishes are removed manually according to the specific disclosure, but by means well known in the conveying art automatic removal is possible. Referring to FIGURE 5, exemplary automatic take-off means are shown. Structural elements corresponding to FIGURES 1-3 are identified by primed reference numerals corresponding to the numerals in those figures. An arm 82 having an integral extension 84 is moved in a rotary translatory path, in a clockwise direction, by virtue of pivoted connections at 86 and 88 to drums 90 and 92. These drums are driven clockwise at the same speed and in synchronism with the driving means for the ascending flights 28'; or in other words, in synchronism with the frequency of arrival of flights 28' at access opening 98.

Thus the arm moves inwardly and upwardly under each ascending box or rack of dishes, lifting it 011? the flights 28' and depositing it on a conveyor comprising skate wheels 96 mounted on an inclined framework 94. A flap 100 of rubber or canvass, as examples, may be hung over the opening 98 to prevent the objectional escape of hot air between automatic removals of clean dishes.

Automatic means for loading of dirty dishes on the descending side A also may be provided in lieu of manual loading. Again, such means are conventional and need not be described.

In the specifically disclosed apparatus the IN and OUT stations are located at an upper level, with dishes traveling first downwardly and then upwardly. However, it will be understood that within the scope of the invention these stations may be at the lower level, with the movement being first upwardly and then downwardly.

It is customary to provide, in the equipment customarily handling dishes, systems of limit switches to effect stopping of the equipment in the event of certain mechanical failures, overloading, etc. The same controls also are contemplated as applicable to the present invention.

From the above description it will be evident that all of the foregoing objects are attained through the use of dishwashing equipment according to the invention. This equipment occupies a minimum of valuable floor space, while utilizing vertical space that normally would be wasted. Since the OUT and IN stations are located side-by-side, a single employee or group of employees can perform all the manual operations necessary. This, of course, affords maximum efliciency in the utilization of man hours.

It will be understood that various departures from the I 6 tions, and means for the washing of .dishes or similar utensils comprising vertical conveying means of the type generally used for conveying containers such as dish racks between a plurality of such floors, said conveying means extending between said floors through an opening provided in at least one thereof, and'means adjacent the path of movement of said containers producing a'cleansing liquid spray directed against utensils carried therein.

2. The combination including a building structure having a plurality of floors at plural vertically spaced elevations, and means for the washing of dishes or similar utensilscomprising an upwardly travelling conveyor for containers of said utensils having a lower receiving portion and an upper discharge portion, a downwardly travelling conveyor for said containers having an upper receiving portion and a lower discharge portion, each of said conveyors extending between said floors through an opening provided in at least one thereof, and means adjacent the path of movement of said containers producing a cleansing liquid spray directed against said utensils.

3. The combination including a building structure having a plurality of floors at plural vertically spaced elevations, and means for the washing of dishes or similar utensils comprising an enclosure extending vertically between said floors through an opening in at least one thereof, means within said enclosure producing cleansing and rinsing sprays, and means for conveying containers of said utensils within said enclosure and through said sprays including upwardly and downwardly travelling conveyor sections and a transition section therebetween.

4. The combination including a building structure having a plurality of floors at plural vertically spaced elevations, and means for the washing of dishes or similar utensils comprising means for conveying containers of said utensils vertically, means adjacent the path of move-, ment of containers for producing liquid sprays directed against said utensils carried thereby, said conveying means comprising a first pair of parallel, vertically travelling chains trained over upper and lower sets of sprockets, a second pair of vertically travelling parallel chains opposite and adjacent said first pair of chains and trained over upper and lower sets of sprockets, shelf members extending between the chains of said first pair and supported therebetween, other corresponding shelf members similarly supported by said second pair of chains and cooperatively defining with the first-mentioned shelf members a plurality of level supporting flights for said containers; and further conveyor means receiving containers from the first-defined conveyor means and travelling in the direc tion opposite thereto, the vertical length of travel of each of said conveyor means being substantially greater than the vertical distance between said floors.

5. The combination according to claim 4, including means associated with said further conveyor means for directing hot air against said utensils.

6. The combination including a building structure having a plurality of floors at plural vertically spaced elevations, and means for the washing of dishes or similar utensils comprising means for conveying containers of said utensils vertically, means adjacent the path of movement of containers for producing liquid sprays directed against said utensils carried thereby, said conveying means comprising a first pair of parallel, vertically travelling endless chains trained over upper and lower sets of sprockets, a second pair of parallel, vertically travelling endless chains opposite and adjacent said first pair of chains and trained over upper and lower sets of sprockets, horizontal shelf members extending between the chains of said first pair and supported thereby, other corresponding horizontal shelf members similarly supported by the chains of said second pair and cooperatively defining with the parallel first-mentioned shelf members a plurality of level supporting flights for said containers, a third pair of parallel, vertically travelling endless chains opposite and adjacent the other side of said first pair of chains and trained over upper and lower sets of sprockets, horizontal shelf members extending between the chains of said second pair and also cooperatively defining with the firstmentioned shelf members aplurality of level supporting flights for said containers, said second and third pair of chains being driven in the same direction and said first pair being driven in the opposite direction, and means for transferring containers between said first and last-mentioned flights, the vertical length of travel of each of said flights being substantially greater than the vertical spacing of said floors. a

7. The combination according to claim v6, including means for directing hot air against the utensils in containers carried by said flights.'

7 References Cited in the-file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wright Apr. 19, 1994 Felt Apr. 23, 1912 'Schaller June 14, 1921 Gibbs Aug. 12, 1924 [Meyer Apr. 12, 1932 Hall June 21, 1932 Laird Feb. 8, 1949 Umbricht et a1. Mar. 1, 1960 Cumming Apr. 25, 1961 Gelfand Oct. 3, 1961 

1. THE COMBINATION INCLUDING A BUILDING STRUCTURE HAVING A PLURALITY OF FLOORS AT PLURAL VERTICALLY SPACED ELEVATIONS, AND MEANS FOR THE WASHING OF DISHES OR SIMILAR UTENSILS COMPRISING VERTICAL CONVEYING MEANS OF THE TYPE GENERALLY USED FOR CONVEYING CONTAINERS SUCH AS DISH RACKS BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF SUCH FLOORS, SAID CONVEYING MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FLOORS THROUGH AN OPENING PROVIDED IN AT LEAST ONE THEREOF, AND MEANS ADJACENT THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTAINERS PRODUCING A CLEANSING LIQUID SPRAY DIRECTED AGAINST UTENSILS CARRIED THEREIN. 